Switch structure.



' No. 866,998. T PATENTBD SEPT. 24, 19o?.

VTANGBRER. SWITCH STRUCTURE.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR ANGERER, OF RIDLEY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM WHARTON, JR., & COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters ,Patent Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR ANG'ERER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Ridley Park, Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain Improvements in Switch Structures, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable bearing for the heel end of a movable tongue switch structure, which is so constructed that the parts can be automatically taken up in the event of wear and which can be readily detached when it is desired to remove the tongue oi the switch.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l, is a plan View of sucient of a switchstructure to illustrate my invention; Fig. 2, is a sectional plan view on the line 2 2, Fig. 3; Fig. 3, is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. A2; Fig. 4, is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5, is a side View of the tongue; Fig. 6, is

'a detached perspective view of the tongue; Figs'. 7, 8

and 9 are perspective views showing details of the invention, and Figs. l0 and l1 are views of modifications.

A is the body oi the switch structure. tongue mounted in the groove a in the switch structure so as to-swing from one position to another. The heel end oi the tongue B is depressed at b and there is a recess b on the underside in front of the depression, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The rear end of the tongue is curved at c and c, as well as at c2. All of these curves are taken from a common center x, Fig. 2.

The root portion b of the tongue extends under an overhanging portion a of the switch structure, which preferably forms an integral part ofthe body portion A, as shown in Fig. 3, although it may be made in a separate piece and secured in place, if desired. Directly below this overhanging portion in the present instance is a hard metal bearing plate D, illustrated clearly in Fig. 9, which rests in a cavity in the body of the switch structure, which forms a bearing for the heel of the tongue B. The forward end d of this inserted piece is beveled as shown. In some instances this plate may be dispensed with.

When the hard metal piece is placed in position it is held therein by pouring molten metal, such as zinc, into the space between the plate and the body ot the structure, as indicated at d2, Fig. 3, so as'to firmly secure the plate in position or may be secured by bolts or wedges ii desired. The upper surface of this plate D is level with the surface a2 of the groove a of the structure upon which the switch tongue has its bearing.

As will be noticed in Fig. 5, theunder surface of the switch tongue B is on the same plane throughout with the exception of the groove b. By this arrangement I am enabled to give an even bearing for the switch tongue throughout its entire length and also am enabled to readily turn the und-er surface of the switch tongue.

B is the 'grooves m m formed in the body vof the structure so E is a front bearing block, which has a curved surface e corresponding to the curve c of the heel section b of the tongue. This bearing block extends through the recess b in the tongue and through an opening 'n in a partition A of the switch Structure and into a cavity n on the opposite side of the structure. The height oi this block is practically equal to the height of the opening and recesses 1L and n so that it will t snugly, but it is not so high as the recess b of the tongue so that the body of the tongue will not rest upon the upper surface of the block; the block simply taking the end thrust of the tongue in one direction. F is a lever acting to hold the block against the heel, of the tongue, an arm f of the lever rests against an abutment n? in the cavity 'n/ and a proj ection f on the lever rests in a recess e in the block E. The outer end f2 of this lever extends into a box A2 at one side of the switch structure', as illustrated in Fig. 2, and a rod G passes through an opening in the lever. This rod extends through a detachable block M mounted in that the block M can be readily removed when desired. In some instances I may prefer to form the lever F integral with the block E.

On the opposite end of the rod G from the lever F is a washer g and between this washer and the block M is a coiled spring H. On each end of the rod G, in the present instance, is a pair of nuts y so that the tension of the'spring can be adjusted. The tendency of the spring is to force the lever and the bearing block E towards the heel end of the tongue and thus take up automatically any lost motion in the pivot portion of the tongue.

The spring presses with such force upon the block E as to hold the tongue firmly in its bearings and such pressure can be applied so that when the tongue is shifted in one position it will not accidentally move f from' this position until forced over-either by the wheels oi a'car or by a tool or mechanism for shifting the tongue.

It will be noticed on referring to the drawings that both the rear and forward bearings of the heel portion of the tongue are beveled and the rear fixed bearing, as well as the forward bearing block are also beveled, so that when pressure is applied to the bearing block it forces the heel portion oi the tongue down upon the bed, giving it a firm and solid bearing.

In some instances, I may dispense with the lever F and use the construction shown in Fig. l0, the block E in this instance having extensions e2 through vwhich rods G extend and between the washers on the rods 105 and the rear of the extension of the block are springs H; one on one side of the switch structure and the other on the opposite side, tending to force the block E toward the or-ward bearing of theheel end of the' tongue.

j# In Fig. 11, 1 have shown a construction adapted to al tongue-having the ordinary depending pivot pin b2 adapted to rest in a segmental bearing d3 in a switch structure A3 and the block E2 has a segmental recessl bearing against the iront half of the pivot pin. Back of this is the lever F. Between one of the sides of the box and the lever is mounted'a spring H2 which tends to force the lever and the block against the pivot.

Thus it Will be seen by the above description that the switch tongue is held properly in position and all Wear: is automatically taken` up so that the switch' tongue'will always be properly seated inE the switch structure. Theblock and the leverr can be readily appliedand removed from the box A2, which is'provided with a' coverc3; and the pressure ofV the spring canI be regulated by simply turning the nutsr on the rodG;

Iiclaim;-

1. The combinationof the body portionof a switch structure, a tongue mounted in the body portion having a pivot' at the heel end, a bearing block at the pivot, and a spring tending to force the bearing block towards the pivot of the tongue, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the body portion of a' switch structure,v a movable tongue, a pivot at the heel end' of the tongue, the back of the pivot' resting against a bearing, a block resting against the forward end of the pivot, a lever resting against the block, and means for forcing the lever against the block, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the body portion of-a'switchstructure having a recess therein, al tongue mounted in the recess, the heel end of the tongue being depressed, an integral part of the body portion extending over the depressed portion of the tongue, a rear bearing for the tongue, a=block forming the forward bearing, and means for yieldingly pressing the block towards the heelofv the tongue, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the body portion of a switch struc ture having a recess, a tongue mounted in the recess, said tongue having a= depressed portion, the over-hanging portion ofI thestructure extending over the depressed portion of the tongue, said tongue having a transverse recess, a bearing block extending through the recess and mounted in the switch structure, and' springs tending to force the bearing block against the rear wall of the recess, substantially. as described.-

5. The combination of the bodyportion of a switch strue ture having a recess therein, a tongue mounted in the recess, a transverse slot at th'e heel end of the tongue, aA

bearing' block extending through the recess and resting against the rear wall ofi the recessand mounted' in the body of the switch structure, a lever also extending through the said recess and bearing against the block, and means for yieldingly forcing the lever against the block, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a switch structure having a recess, ay tongue mountedfin the recess, the bottomiof the tongue being infthe same line throughout its length, its upper surface being depressed at the heel end, and a bearingv in'the base of the switchstructure for the heell end of the tongue, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the body portion of'a switch structure having a longitudinal recess therein, an overhanging portion of the switch structure extending over the rear end of the recess, a tongue depressed at the heel en'd and extending under the overhanging portion, said'tongue having-a transverse slot inits underI side in front ofthe depressed portion, a bearing block mounted in the slot, and a spring at one side of the switch structure tending to force the bearing block against the heel'of the tongue, substantially as described 8. The combination ofithe body-portion of a switch structure having ailongitudinalrecess, a tongue mounted in-the recess, a transverse slot on the underside of the tongue near its heel end, the extremeend o1' the tongue and one v wall of the slot being beveled, the end of the recess havingl a bevel corresponding with the bevel of the end of the tongue, a bearing block extending through the recess in 4the tongue and having a beveled bearing surface, with means tending to force the block against the tongue, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the body of a switch structure Ahaving a longitudinal recess therein, a portion oi' the structure overhanging the said recess, a switch tongue mounted in the recess and depressed at its heel end to extend under the overhanging portion of the structure, a transverse slot in the underside of the tongue forward of lthe depressed portion, the rear wall of this slot and the rearA end of the tongue being rounded, a bearingy for the end of the tongue, a transverse block having a rounded' bearing surface conforming to the shape of the ibear-ing surface of the tongue, a lever back of the block, land aL spring tendingto force the lever against; the block, @substantially as described.

l0. The combination of a switch structure having a jbearing surface, a switch tongue having a heel restingl on the bearing surface, front and rear edges of the heel beingr beveledto correspond with the bevel of the lixed bearing- `on the structure and the movable bearing block, with means for pressing the bearing block towards the heel causing the heel to be forced down onto its iixed bearing, substantiany as described.

11. The combinationv of a switch structure having a longitudinal recess, a portion of the switch structure over- Jhanging the rear end of the recess, a tongue mounted in the recess and having a depressed heel end extending under the overhanging' portion, a transverse slot in the underlside of` the tongue forwardA of the depressed portion, the

rear wall ofthis slot being curved and beveled and the `rear end of the tongue being also curved and beveled to ifit a curved and beveled bearing, a transverse bloei: cxtending through the opening in the tongue and having a l curved and beveledbearing surface to it the bearing sur- `face of` the tongue, and means tending to yieldingly force the bearing block against the tongue, substantially as described.

12. The combination of the body portion of a switch structure having a longitudinal recess therein, said body having a portion overhanging the rear end of the recess, a tongue mounted in the recess and having a depressed heel and extending under the over-hanging portion ot the body, the front of the overhanging portion being curved and the `tongue being also curved to correspond to the curve of the overhanging portion, a transverse slot in the tongue, the end of the tongue being curved and beveled and the rear wall of the slot being also curved and beveled, all the curves being taken from the same center, a bearing block extending through the recess in the tongue and mounted in the body of the switch structure, and means for yield ingly forcing the block against the heel end of the tongue, substantially as described.

13. The combination of the body portion of a switch structure, a longitudinal recess therein, a tongue mounted in the recess, a real' bearing for the heel end of the longue, a recess in the underside of the tongue ucar thc heel end, a block extending transversely through the switch strucA ture and resting against the heel end of the tongue, a lever `lalso extending through the recess in the tongue and resting against an abutment on the body portion, a box at one side of the body portion, said lever extending into tbc box, a-rod attached to the lever, anda spring acting upon the rod to force the lever against the bearing block, substan tially as described.

14. The combination of the body portion ot a switch structure having a longitudinal recess therein, a switch tongue mounted in the recess and having a depressed portion to extend under an overhanging portion of the body, a transverse slot in the tongue, the rear wall of this slot being beveled and curved and the rear of the tongue being beveled and curved, a bearing blocl: extending' through the recess in the tongue and mounted in the body portion, a lever bearing against the rear of the block and against an abutment on the body portion, a box at' one side of the body portion into which one end of the lever extends, 4a block in the body portion, a rod extending through the lever and through the block, a washer on the rod, and a spring between the Washer and the block, substantially as described.

15. The combination of the body portion of a switchstructure having a longitudinal recess therein, a switch tongue mounted in the recess having a depressed root end fitting under an overhanging portion of the body, a trans verse slot in the underside of the tongue forward of the heel end, a beveled block and lever extending through an opening in the body portion and through the recess in the tongue and into a recess in the body portion, one arm of the lever resting against an abutment in the recess of the body portion, a rodattached to one arm of the lever, and a spring on the rod tending to force the lever against the bearing block, substantially as described.

16. The combination of the body portion of a switch structure, a longitudinal recess therein extending under an overhauging portion of the body at one end, a tongue mounted in the recess, the lheel end of the tongue being depressed and extending under the body portion, the under side of the tongue being in the same plane throughout, a transverse slot on the underside of the tongue forward of the depressed portion, a bearing block yextending through the transverse recess in the tongue and mounted in the body portion, a lever resting against an abutment, a box at one side of the body portion into which the other arm of the lever extends, a removable block in the said box, a rod extending through the lever and through the block and having a washer at its outer end, a spring mounted on the rod between the washer and the block and tending to force the lever against the bearing, substantially as described.

17. The combination of the body portion of a switch structure having a longitudinal recess therein, a portion of the body overhanging the rear end of the recess, a bearing plate mounted in the body under the overhanging portion, a switch tongue mounted in the recess and having a depressed portion extending under the overhanging portion, the heel end of the tongue resting' upon the bearing plate, the bearing plate having a projecting portion against which the rear end of the tongue rests, a bearing block resting against the forward bearing portion of the tongue, and means yieldingly forcing the block against the tongue, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VICTOR ANGERER.

Witnesses Jos. H. KLEIN, WM. A. BARR. 

